By Tabita Fernandes | Project Leader
The campaign helped create awareness about the effects of child labour and also helped raise funds to help children go back to school and continue learning instead of working to support their family.
Disha's story is a powerful example of how children need continuous support and opportunities to reach their potential and fulfil their dreams.
After Disha's father abandoned her and her four siblings, their helpless mother had to look for mediocre jobs to earn money to support her children.
It was in those devastating times that Disha was determined to build a better future for her family. As part of CRY's children's collective, she attended life skills sessions and learned about child rights. During this time, Disha became aware of the importance of education and learned about her rights as a child.
The challenges started when Disha got distracted from her goals, stopped attending the children's collective meetings, dropped out of school, and started working as a domestic help.The collective members intervened and persuaded her to return to school and notified the team at CRY to speak with her family.
Disha realized her mistakes and her family received counseling and support to overcome any financial difficulties. Through CRY's efforts, Disha was enrolled in a school with hostel facilities. This was a very difficult phase for her, she struggled and even considered giving up. In the end, the new journey and new friends enabled her to sail through this difficulty and eventually she became comfortable in this new environment.
CRY continues to provide guidance and emphasize the importance of education and discipline. Disha is now thriving in her new school. In her visits home, she is happy to share what she has learned with her family.
Disha's story is a reminder that children need opportunities to learn and educate themselves, both boys and girls, to know what lies ahead.
Another story is of Krisha*. In a small village, Krisha, a 14-year-old eighth-grade student, lived with her family. Their village was home to a close-knit tribal community, and her family's livelihood depended on her father's daily wage labour. However, as winter approached, work became scarce, and they struggled to afford two meals a day.
To help her family, Krisha was forced to work at a nearby brick kiln, sacrificing her education. Her absence from school was noticed during an adolescent group meeting, prompting project team members to visit her home.
After assessing their situation, the team, along with village officials, prepared an application. They requested ration support for her family, citing food scarcity as the reason for her interrupted education. The application was submitted through the CRY’s children's collective.
The village head promptly responded to the request. Rations were provided to her family through the public distribution system, ensuring they had enough to eat. With the project team’s support, Krisha returned to school, and her family applied for an MNREGA job card to secure more stable employment.
Collective efforts made a difference in Krisha’s life, demonstrating the power of community support and practical solutions to challenges.
A third story is of a 13 year old boy Babar, who lives with his family in a small village. His father was a daily wage labourer whose income was not enough to suffice the family's needs.
The situation at home forced Babar to take a very crucial decision. He dropped out of school and started earning to support his family. He was a very active member of CRY's children's collective in his village.
When he was absent from the collective for a very long time, it became a concern for the team. One of the members inquired about the matter and found out he had started working. The next day they met Babar and learnt that he was earning a living by working as an assistant to the tractor driver. He also shared that he wanted to study, but his family's economic condition compelled him to work.
The team immediately prepared a plan with all the stakeholders. The Head of the Gram Panchayat was involved in the plan. He agreed to fund Babar's studies and helped link his family with the social security scheme. The team went to his father and counselled him about the importance of education and the ill effects of child labour. He was assured of all the possible support Babar and his family would be provided. After much effort by the team, he got convinced to send him back to school. Today, Babar is in 6th standard and is regularly attending school.
CRY works towards helping children leave behind their lives as child labourers and move towards a hopeful future, giving them the gift of education, support from their community and an opportunity to chase their dreams.
*Names changed to protect the child's identity
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